Yankees’ Juan Soto makes clear what he wants from next team
LOS ANGELES — Juan Soto authored what might have been the greatest offensive season of a great offensive career thus far.
His 41 home runs were a career high.
His ALCS-winning home run in Cleveland was one of those forever moments that is a reminder of why he is in pinstripes.
Juan Soto’s three-run ALCS Game 5 homer sent the Yankees to the World Series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But to truly make his mark on the Yankees, he believes he will have to do more.
“I have one more step to go,” Soto said Thursday, the eve of Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium. “You can be the best player, you can do whatever you want. But at the end of the day, people remember you if you win a World Series and what you did for that team.”
Nationals fans will remember Soto for the magical 2019 ride to a championship — and for letting him slip away.
Yankees fans hope that Soto, about as potent a hired gun as baseball has seen, becomes more than that.
Yet again, Soto danced his way out of questions concerning a future that will make him a wildly rich individual.
Juan Soto is set to hit free agency in the offseason. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST
He said the impending free agency, which likely will see him become the owner of the second-largest contract in baseball history (behind LA’s Shohei Ohtani), has not weighed on him in part because super-agent Scott Boras is handling everything.
By all accounts, including Soto’s, the Yankees have ensured that the pending free agent has enjoyed his stay in The Bronx.
Soto thanked his teammates, coaches and a culture that has made him feel welcome.
Juan Soto is playing in his second World Series. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It’s been one of the most fun years I’ve ever played,” said Soto, who turns 26 on Friday. “This team has been unbelievable. It’s just amazing how we get along together, how we have fun in the moment..”
Will that fun help tilt the odds in the Yankees’ favor?
Would he value the enjoyment over the financial bottom line?
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Soto did not answer directly but made it clear he wants to play where he can win.
“Definitely every player wants to be happy with where they’re at,” Soto said. “At the end of the day, whenever you win, you’re really going to be happy.”
Happiness probably comes easier if the fan base has fallen in love with you. Fans in the right-field bleachers — and elsewhere — often have chanted “Re-sign Soto” in pleas to the Yankees front office, and probably to the player, too.
Juan Soto takes batting practice during Media Day on Oct. 24, 2024, the eve of the 2024 MLB World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST
“I’m really thankful for them,” said Soto, who added he appreciates that the fans have had his back all year.
Virtually everything in his only guaranteed season in The Bronx has lived up to the cloud-level expectations.
For the fairy-tail ending, though, Soto would need to deliver on the biggest stage, which arrives Friday.
The Yankees publicly have not placed any pressure on a Soto commitment, manager Aaron Boone again saying that thoughts concerning Soto’s future are “for another day.”
“When the time comes and this is all over,” Aaron Judge said, “he’ll make the right decision.”
